Roadblock

Night.

Qin Yang packed some clothes in his room and counted his money.

Four thousand five hundred silver taels from selling off the family estate, plus another three thousand silver taels originally in the Qin Manor account books.

Severance pay cost about a thousand silver taels.

That left six thousand five hundred silver taels.

Besides that, there was also a large batch of gold and silver jewelry retrieved from the Other Shore Cult stronghold.

He'd originally planned to have Li Tong sell it off later, but that was no longer necessary. He'd just pack it all up himself and take it to the Prefecture City to unload—estimated value around two thousand silver taels.

That was roughly his entire net worth. Qin Yang bundled everything into one pack, then returned to his bed to cultivate the Turtle-Snake Art.

The next morning.

A large horse-drawn carriage stopped at the entrance of Qin Manor.

This time, the people following Qin Yang to the Prefecture City included Qian Hai and Xiao Huan, plus one unexpected guest.

"Baling, your dad actually let you leave him?"

Qin Yang was very surprised.

Early that morning, Li Baling had been waiting at the door with a big bundle on his back.

"How should I know."

"We've got some relatives over in the Prefecture City. They found me a good master, said I should go train martial arts."

"The old man said since you're heading to the Prefecture City anyway, I might as well go with you."

Li Baling yawned.

Qin Yang smiled and let Li Baling climb into the carriage.

Li Tong must have listened to what he said yesterday and decided to let Li Baling go with him.

But he wasn't as willing to let go as Qin Yang was—he hadn't sold off everything. In the end, he chose to stay in Linjiang City himself.

That way, even if Linjiang City really did run into trouble like Qin Yang predicted, Li Baling wouldn't be in danger.

"Hyah!"

Qian Hai flicked the reins, getting the horses moving.

Inside the carriage.

Xiao Huan lifted the curtain and looked back toward Qin Manor, a little reluctant. "Young master, do you think we'll ever have a chance to come back?"

"Who knows. Maybe yes, maybe no."

"The affairs of this world are hard to predict. I doubt even the gods could say for sure."

Qin Yang smiled.

Zzz...

A snore suddenly rang out.

Li Baling, that carefree bastard, had fallen asleep leaning against the carriage.

Qin Yang gave a helpless smile.

The carriage encountered no trouble along the way and drove straight out of the city.

This trip to the Prefecture City was a long one—it would take over half a month.

Along the way, they might run into bandits or the like.

Qian Hai didn't dare let his guard down. He drove the carriage while keeping an eye on the surroundings.

Half an hour after leaving Linjiang City.

The carriage suddenly jerked to a halt.

"Ouch!"

Li Baling, still asleep inside the carriage, smacked his head and yelped in pain.

"What's going on?"

Li Baling rubbed the back of his head and grumbled.

Xiao Huan was also startled, her expression wary.

"You two wait here."

"I'll go check it out."

Qin Yang said, then stepped out of the carriage.

On the dirt-colored official road ahead.

A bald, burly man in a black robe, carrying a crescent spade on his back, stood blocking the way in the middle of the road.

The man was powerfully built. A black snake tattoo coiled over his head, so lifelike it looked like a real serpent wrapped around his skull, giving him a fierce and vicious appearance.

Qian Hai's eyes turned solemn.

As a seasoned Jianghu veteran, he could sense the hostility in the big man's gaze.

"Didn't expect you'd still catch up."

Qin Yang shook his head slightly, carrying the Great Chopper on his back as he leaped down from the carriage.

"This isn't a good place to fight."

"How about over there?"

Qin Yang pointed at the woods nearby.

Zhou Weichan was a bit surprised. He had expected to see panic on Qin Yang's face, but the man remained perfectly calm.

That made him think a little more highly of Qin Yang.

"Interesting."

Zhou Weichan smiled and nodded.

"Uncle Qian, wait for me here."

"I'm going to catch up with this friend."

Qin Yang smiled.

With that, he turned and walked toward the woods.

Zhou Weichan followed at a leisurely pace.

The two arrived in a clearing within the forest.

"Luo Jian was killed by you, wasn't he."

Zhou Weichan Said Softly.

"He set his sights on my tavern. Naturally, I couldn't let him off."

Qin Yang said indifferently.

"You're a smart man. After killing Luo Jian, you sensed something was off and immediately left Linjiang City."

Zhou Weichan's tone carried a hint of approval.

"And yet you still caught up."

"Your Other Shore Cult really is annoying."

"I just want to train in peace, but you keep coming to bother me."

Qin Yang sighed.

"Seems like you know quite a bit." Zhou Weichan narrowed his eyes.

"What do you think?" Qin Yang gave a faint smile.

Zhou Weichan didn't want to keep talking. He fell silent.

Qin Yang's gaze sharpened.

Boom!!

A fierce aura erupted from both of them at the same time, colliding violently.

"Gathering Qi Realm. No wonder Luo Jian died at your hands."

Zhou Weichan took the Crescent Spade off his back, pushed off the ground with both legs, and charged straight at Qin Yang.

His charging posture carried an overwhelming pressure, meant to psychologically intimidate his opponent.

But Qin Yang wasn't affected at all. The moment his hand landed on the hilt of his blade—

Whoosh~

A gust of wind Flashed Out from nowhere, forming a fierce air current.

Zhou Weichan's eyes sharpened as he thrust the Crescent Spade forward.

The great blade came down hard, slamming heavily into the Crescent Spade.

Clang!

Two immense forces collided at once.

Zhou Weichan felt a slight numbness in both hands and stepped back a few paces.

Shock filled his heart. He hadn't expected Qin Yang to possess such deep, surging physical strength and power.

"Ink Moon Slash!"

Zhou Weichan let out a low growl from his throat. The muscles in his arms exploded with force as he swung the Crescent Spade rapidly, carving out streaks of black traces.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Qin Yang's eyes burned with excitement. His blade shifted momentum, bursting forth like a raging, violent blaze!

The two weapons clashed in rapid succession, unleashing thunderous roars and sending fierce gusts of air scattering in all directions.

Zhou Weichan's moves were broad and sweeping; as his Crescent Spade swung, it stirred up layers of roaring air currents.

Qin Yang's aura was savage, like a wildfire spreading across the plains, showing no sign of falling behind.

After dozens of brutal clashes, Zhou Weichan's heart grew increasingly alarmed.

Such high-intensity exchanges should have been extremely draining on both focus and stamina.

Even he felt a slight strain.

But Qin Yang across from him seemed unchanged, his stamina endless.

"This guy really is strange!"

Zhou Weichan swung his Crescent Spade with his Right Hand, like a black moon crashing violently toward Qin Yang.

The air trembled fiercely, as if it would split Qin Yang in two.

Qin Yang growled low, his chopping knife slashing out savagely in return.

Clang~

They had traded such direct blows many times.

But this time, Qin Yang felt a violent tremor from the Crescent Spade and stepped back a few paces.

Zhou Weichan had been waiting for this moment. He gathered palm force in his left hand, quickly coating it in a layer of pitch black, and struck hard at Qin Yang's chest.

Boom~

Then he heard the roar of a thunderbolt.

His chest felt as if struck by a Thunder Giant Hammer, a terrifying impact erupting violently.

Zhou Weichan's massive, burly body flew back over ten meters, snapping a dozen trees along the way.

"Your speed is too slow."

Qin Yang shook his head dismissively.

Amid the swirling dust, a figure stood up.

"Cough, cough... It seems I underestimated you."

Zhou Weichan spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale.

The next moment, the Black Snake Tattoo on his head shifted eerily, as if coming to life, exuding black mist and slowly writhing.